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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY CONSULTING
 Expertise in the investment management industry

Investors Choice has conducted in-depth interviews with over 80 of Canada’s
leading money management firms and those US based firms that are available to Canadian investors.

Our database also covers more than 170 managers who collectively manage over
$400 billion in private client assets.  Our primary research, studying and
interviewing investment managers, enables us to recommend appropriate
investment management alternatives to our high net-worth clients. We are also
considered industry experts by firms specializing in private client investment
services and have conducted numerous consulting engagements with money
management firms. We frequently speak at industry association conferences.

Our services include the following:

  • Investment manager search and evaluation for high net-worth individuals.
    .
  • Developing improved practices for estimating the Net Asset Values for Offshore Hedge Funds managed in Canada.
    .
  • Consulting for investment managers. Major assignments have included
    business planning, market analysis and competitive positioning, and
    financial forecasting and planning.
    .
  • Facilitating workshops for investment managers on strategies for
    successfully marketing to and servicing private clients.
    ..
  • Conducting research for investment managers on the relative size
    and market share of the various investment managers within the
    Canadian private client marketplace.
    .
  • Developing and training investment representatives on the industry
    to hone their investment and client management skills.
    .
  • Showcasing investment managers at our annual company sponsored
    Harvest Festival seminar.












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We offer the Canadian investment management community a
performance record examination service that may help you in
your efforts to enhance your credibility and competitiveness
in the investment management marketplace. 

A performance record examination benefits firms in the following ways:
  • helps distinguish firms from other investment advisors
    who have not had their performance records examined
    by independent specialists
    .
  • provides an objective assessment of past performance 
    .
  • improves existing performance disclosure, and reputation
    among independent search consultants
    .
  • incorporates AIMR-PPS®/GIPS® compliance in a firm's
    marketing efforts

 We currently serve clients across Canada.

Expertise in the Canadian Investment Management Industry

Our process involves interviewing managers to determine their style, strengths,
weaknesses and ability to provide a superior quality of service to our high net
worth private clients.  Each manager is scored on the following dimensions:

  • Client & Investment Profile including communication
  • Investment Process including Products & Services
  • Sales Process
  • Solutions & Decision Making
  • Relationship Management including discretion
  • Competency
  • Courtesy & Manners including appearance

Additionally, we collect valuable information from each manager on
the following areas: 

  • services and products offered 

  • fees, counselor-to-client ratios

  • performance measurement methodology, 
    targets/benchmarks, track record

  • company's investment philosophy and in-depth 
    investment process

  • approaches to tax efficiency

  • client investment orientation diagnosis

  • relationship management process

We conduct interviews at the money manager's premises across Canada and
New York City. Our primary contact is with managers in Vancouver, Calgary,
Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton, and Halifax and we
maintain a proprietary database that rates these managers.

Our detailed knowledge of the money management industry, marketplace and
individual players is brought to bear on every consulting and performance record
examination engagement we conduct. This insight enables us to identify strategic
synergies within the investment management community and has lead to
cooperative business relations between firms we have worked with.

In 1999 we launched the Simulated Audit™ service. Investors Choice
provides a simulated audit similar to what you may expect during an actual
securities field examination. The difference being that you can digest the results,
and take appropriate action prior to a potential crisis that could occur during an
actual field examination where serious deficiencies were noted.

In 2000 the firm introduced The Customized Compliance Manual for Investment
Management and Investment Counsel and Portfolio Management firms. In 2001
the firm developed a mutual fund dealer audit for MFDA registrants.
In 2003 the firm developed a compliance manual for hedge fund investment
management firms.

During our simulated audit we examine the following areas:

Compliance and Internal Controls
Books & Records
Policies & Procedures
Conflicts of interest
Change of Control of the Advisor
Custody of Client assets
Portfolio Management Standards
Disclosure
Trade Allocations
Advertising
Performance
Personal Trading
Advisory Agreements
Referral Arrangements
Sales practices